The gym wasn’t empty. Two palace employees who looked to be in the middle of a workout were there, but Logan wasn’t in the mood for company and levelled a look at them both.
Mumbling a formal greeting, both men collected their gear and left through the second door.
Cassidy turned to face him, her slender brow arched as she toed off the soft slippers provided for palace guests. ‘You made them leave.’
‘Yes.’ He placed the two water bottles on the bench against the wall, completely unapologetic.
‘You didn’t have to do that,’ she said. ‘We’re only going to be using the mat.’
Logan lifted a brow. ‘Oh, did you want an audience when I soundly beat you, Miss Ryan?’
A soft blush touched her cheeks as she shook her head. ‘I may look small, Mr de Silva, but I’ve beaten men larger than you before.’
Her beguiling gaze raked from his broad shoulders down over his powerful thighs and he actually felt a shiver move across his skin.
As if she had no idea of the effect she had on him, she gazed at him steadily from across the mat. Which was probably for the best.
Obviously feeling the swirl of his shifting emotions, she tilted her little chin up at him. ‘So what happens now?’
Making the decision to switch his brain from sex to sparring, he toed off his runners and moved to stand in the middle of the mat. When he had offered to spar with her it had been out of a genuine need to let off some steam and, okay, a small amount of curiosity to see her in action. Knowing that she held a senior black belt had only elevated that interest. ‘Now we spar,’ he said.
Aware of every move she made, he noticed the moment she hesitated. ‘Actually, I meant about you becoming King. What’s the process?’
‘A notice will go out tomorrow.’ She stepped back from him and stretched from side to side, bending to touch her toes to warm up.
Logan told himself not to watch. ‘The coronation will be on Friday.’
‘Four days from now?’ She straightened and rolled her slender shoulders. ‘Why so soon?’
‘To avoid any more fallout for Arrantino and to ensure that the focus is on the future. Not the past.’
‘That makes sense.’
Having finished her stretches, she came to stand directly in front of him, her subtle scent reaching out to ensnare him. When he didn’t immediately move, her eyes flickered to his warily. ‘You know we can still change our mind about this.’
‘Too late.’ He overrode his sensual response and bowed to her. ‘I’m already having fun.’
And he was. Seeing another side to Cassidy was far more interesting than contemplating how incredibly his life was about to change.
‘I’m still not used to seeing everyone bow and curtsy to you as they have been today,’ she murmured. ‘Does that mean I’m supposed to as well?’
‘Only when you first see me in the day.’
‘Oh, sorry. I forgot this morning.’
‘Next time it will be ten lashes at dawn,’ he promised, bending his knees to take up the traditional karate stance. ‘Shall we?’
Her green eyes gleamed as she observed him and he knew that she was relishing the opportunity to spar with him as much as he was with her. A dark thrill raced through his body at the prospect that he might have met his match.
Cassidy took up a similar pose, tracking his expressions and movements with the confidence of a seasoned practitioner.
Logan breathed in through his nostrils, once more picking up the scent of flowers and musk.
Which was when she struck, moving her arms in a quick series of blocking moves before sweeping his legs out from under him.
She laughed as he lay sprawling at her feet, the sound light and musical. Not at all put out by her getting the jump on him, he leapt lithely to his feet.
‘Like that, is it?’ he drawled softly.